Separator or amalgamator.



J. A. MACDONALD,

SEPARATOR 0R AMALGAMATOR.

APPLICATION mm DEC. 13. 19-15.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

J. A. MACDONALD.

SEPARATOR 0R AMALGAMATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13. I915.

Iratented Aug. 21, 1917.

3 $HEETSSHEET 2.

J. A. MACDONALD.

SEPARATOR 0R AMALGAMATOR.

APPLICATION mmnzc. I3. 1915.

Patented Aug. 21,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

a ai A m de ate QF ama i assee iiiems 1.23am, a

To. call 1071101124 it may concern: I

Be 1t knownthatl, JOHN A.MA-CDONALD,

a citizenoi the. United States, residing at Bosto1i., inthecounty of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Separators for.

Amalgamators, of which the following is :a specification. a t

This invention relates to separators vor amalgamators for the separation of gold and other preclous'minerals from :rnaterlalsv bearing the same and the theextracted mineral. l

Themain objectof the :invention is .to providera combined separating and amalamalgamation of gamating apparatus wherein the ores, if

containing coarse values, may besubjected;

to a mechanical separatingaction for the ex tract on .ofthe coarse valuesand subse quently subjected to an amalgamating treat .IIlBl'lt for the extraction of-the fine values or wherein the ores may be treated to; a seriesof amalgamating actions When containing only fine values or an amalgamating proc ess throughout is required.

A further object of the invention. is provide a separatory apparatus Which is simple of construction, reliable andefiicient in action, and by means of which the materials be treated as required for the eiii 1 cient extraction of theirfmlneral contents.

The invention consists of the featuresof constructlon, comblnatlon and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed; referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings in which 2-- Figure 1 is aside elevation ofa separatory apparatus constructed in; accordance with my invention.

F ig. 2 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section of the same.

Fig; 3*is a sectional plan View on'the line 3-3 of-Fig. 1. a

Fi 4 is a vertical transverse section on" the :line 1-4 1 of Fig. -1.

Fig. 5is aviewsh'owingthe manner of connecting theinlet ends of the flush pipes With-the Water or air serv ce pipes.

Fig. 6 is a detail verticalsectionshowing a modified form of regulating valverfor use:

under some conditions. a a

Figs. '7 and 8 arevertical sections, taken at rightangrles to 'eachfiothen throughthe automatic feeder. a 7

J Referring to. the drawings, 1, 2 and 3 ideslgaate ies at enerate-a devices, f

' swam-. tacama:

se weed Mal w an y r tgnteuaiwat wit .,1 AppIicatiOnfiledDeeemben13,l915. Seria1N-o.66,610.

which any. suitable number maybe employed, three being shown in the present instance forpurposes oi? exemplificat on. The

are supportedupon a suitable base or Yfoun- H dation 4,. the separatory device 1 arranged at the highest level being the first in order i n: the series,rand the separatory device 3 ranged atfthe loive st levelthe final in order in=the series. a a

TEaClP of these separator-y devices com prisesabodyb formed to provide an agitat -ing orjainalgamating chamberfi having a boivl shapedbottom 'or basin 7 forming a] receptacle forttlie material under treatment or for the 1 ainalgaihating substance 8, such as n1ercury,; when such T substance used; The ,chamberfi is provided vvlth a removable cover 9rhavingan inletlQ forthe inb troductiontof themercury, and each body' 5 1s detachablysecured to and supported upon ahollgox'v? standard or pedestal 11 having an outlet .1 12: for the discharge ofthe inercury from the bowl: orybasi-n, said outlet 'commu-* nicating with the bottom of the bowl through .a} discharge passage 13. A valveor cut-.ofi plate 14 movable on a Wheel or roller bearing. 15, is providedto normally closethe p assagewl3, and said valve is movableto open andclosed positions byineans of an exteriorly @projectin g handle 16. A- locking] device 16*, off-suitable construction, maybeprovided 'for normallyholdingj the valve 14 authorized erson, i

Theseparatory'devices l andQ are each provided With an inlet 17 for the) introduc tion oi the pulpuinto its chamber 6 abovethe level ofthe mercury, and a hopper: or feed nozzle 17 communicates with "the opening 17 oftlie separatory device 1 for the introductionof the pulp thereto.

a In: employing these paratory devices 1 2 foramalgamating actions, the bowl? of] 1 eachrof said devices may be filled'withTrier-1 cur'y up to theilevel indicated by the line capacitm'and-to the lower level indicated by from I amalgamating chamber. At its oppositev side above the level of the llne wm,

each chamber 6 is provided with a pulp discharge outlet 20, the passages of the separatory devices 1 and 2 being in communication with outletconnections 21 and 22, respectively, while"the outlet passage 20 of the separatory device 3.7communicates with a tailings discharge spout 23. The passage 20, of the first sepa'ratory device. 1 is in communication with the inlet 17 of the second separator y device 2, and, if desired, more than two separat-ory devices, like the devices I ,an'd 2, which differ somewhat in construction from the separatory device 3, may be employed,- in which event the outlet 20 of theseparatory device2 will communicate r with the: outlet of the next separatory device of: the same l-type'in order in a series, as-w1ll be readily understood. In the presentinstance however," I have shown the connec- .tion'122- communicating with "the outlet 20 of the-separatory device 2 arranged to conmeet with a discharge nozzlei24, designed for a purpose hereinafter described.

' The separatory devices 1 and 2may1be eming; a suitablejamalgamating agent, such as a body :of mercury: 8, asbefore described.

. Vvhenfa:strictly'mechanical separating ac- 1-; londsjemployed, which may be advanta- 4 I geousl-yused where the ores contain coarse values, the pulp, together with a supply of water, .is fed to the chamber 6 of the sepa-' ratforl and subjected'to agitation so that the particles ofgoldwhichare freed by the agitationflor washed out by the water willdescend'by gravity to the'bottom of the chamber, while" the pulp and 'lighter'particles' of the, mineral will pass ofi finally through the outlet of the separator ljinto the separator 2,

. v 1 in which they maybe subjected to'the same treatment, by which gold ofthe next coarse 'grade'will" be separated,the pulpand fine values finally zdis'chargin'gfr-omlthe outlet of the separator 2 and being then transferred tothe-separator 3, where they are subjected to. a final amalgamating action for the separation of the 'finevalues.- If desired, however, all of the separators may be employed as,amalgainatorsain whichevent it will be understood that the pulpqentering the chamber fiof the {separator 1 will be agitated and a proportion of; the gold taken up by the bodyof mercury 8, thepulp'finally rising to 3' the; level ofthe-eutlet 20 and passing to the separator 2, where asecond amalgamating treatment :is: carried out, the pulp thencepassing'; to-the separator '3" where the finer Values: are amalgamated and the tailings i finally discharged as, refuse, asiwill be readily-understood." That portion of the. wall of eachbhamberfi' between, the outlet 20 and maximum level line wm of the mercury acts as a bafile or retarder to prevent the discharge of'the pulp from the chamber 6 until it reaches a predetermined level therein.

Arranged within the chamber 6 of the separators are rotary agitators each mounted upon the lower end of a vertical shaft 26 which is journaled in and extends outwardly through a stuffing box 27 on the cover 9. The upper end of this shaft carries a collar or thrust bearing member 28 rotating in contact with the anti-friction bearing balls 29, and suitably fixed to said bearing member and shaft is a beveled gear 30. The gears 30 of the two separator agitators mesh with drive gears 31 on a line shaft 32 journaled in suitable bearings 33 on the covers of the respective separator devices, 1, 2 and 3. Thisv shaft may consist of one or more sectionsv suitably coupled together, and on said shaft is a pulley 34 by which it may be driven from a suitable source of power. Through the rotation of the shaftthe agitators are driven to stir the mass undertreatment for mechanical separation or agitation of the pulp and mercury'to thoroughly expose the particles of the pulp to the mercury for an amalgamating action before the pulp is. allowed to pass off. i

The'0utlets20 are controlled by vertically movable gates or valves 35, each of which is connected at its upper end with a crank or wrist pin36, on a gear 37 receiving motion from a pinion 38 on the shaft 32, whereby in the rotation of the shaft the valves 100 will beopened and closed once on each rotation. thereof. These valves govern the discharge of'the pulp through the outlets 20 and are geared for operation in timed accord with the agitators, so as to insure a 105 proper agitation of the mass before the pulp is allowed to pass off, the gates being operated intermittently and simultaneously with each other, while the agitators continuously revolve.

.For the purpose of flooding or flushing the amalgamators with water to wash out the tailings previous to drawing off the amalgam or deposited mineral matter, I provide water supply pipes 39 extending along opposite 115 sides of the separators and having branches 40 leading therefrom into the chambers 6, and three-way valve 41 for controlling the flow of water through the pipes and branches. The pipes are connected at one end by'a 120 union 42 with one or more service pipes 43 having controlling valves 44. Instead of supplying water through these pipes to the separators, they may be employed for the purpose of introducing compressed air under a suitable degree of pressure, by which the material within the separators may be either 7 agitated or the pulp blown out.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that in the operation of the apwhereby the mercury: is thoroughly-conimingled with the-pulp and takes upuaceu' tain proportionof the gold or "other precious metal contained therein. The "pulp rises in the chamber 6 untildt reaches theylevel of the outlet 20, through-.Which .it.:'discliarges and enters the amalgamating chamber of the next separator-2through the passage 21, the discharge of the pulp from the amalgamat-- ing chamber of the separator 1 being temporarily retarded by the valve 35, which opens at predetermined intervals to allow the pulp to pass out. The pulp deprived of a portion of the mineral is treated in like manner in the amalgamating device 2 and finally discharges therefrom through the spout 24 and is delivered to the separator 3 in which amalgamation of the finer particles of the mineral is effected, the free tailings discharging through the final outlet 23 of said sepa rator 3. This operation is continued until a determined amount of the pulp has been treated and themercury contained in each of the separators has taken up a maximum amount of the gold or other metal, at which time the feed of fresh pulp to the primary amalgamating device is arrested and the valves 41 opened to admit water into the amalgamating chambers for the purpose of flushing the same and washing the tailings remaining in the separators at such time, the tailings and water being drawn off through the faucets 18 and 19. After this is efifected, the gates or valves 14 are then Opened for the withdrawal ofthe amalgam r through the outlets 12, as will be readily understood. As before stated, a current of air supply through the pipes 39 may be employed to agitate the pulp and mercury, and if desired the mercury may be withdrawn from the separators l and 2 when the material contains coarse values and the separation effected by the agitation of the mass so as to free the coarse particles of gold which feed downward by gravity to the bottom portions of the chambers 7 from which they may be withdrawn and collected after discharge of the pulp, the pulp being finally treated in the separatorB for the extraction and amalgamation of the finer values. The gates or valves 35 may be; imperforate, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, but if desired, perforated screen valves 35 of the form shown in Fig. 6 may be employed for dry separation, such as valves allowing a certain amount of the drier gangue or pulp to-passg off v in the: closedposition of the valves, so that a more: rapicl-'se1:)arati11g ac tion canbeeffectedll The pulpipassing after the; second stage of; treatment through the nozzle 24 drops. into the receptacle 45 commumcatmg througlr a suctlon p1pe46 with i the: inlet of the casing of a suction and discharge fan or pump 47,.from the outletof which pump casing thelmaterial is discharged and delivered through a nozzle'48 into the'bottom ofthe chamber of the'separator:8fbelowthe-levelof the mercury therein,xwhereby' the material and mercury are agitated and commingled so that a thorough exposureof all: particles of the pulp to the mercury will be effected, resulting in the extraction and amalgamation of the finer values, the amalgam being drawn off finally through the outlet 12 of said separator and the tailings discharged through the nozzle 23. The pump shaft carries a pulley 49 which is driven by a belt 50 from a pulley 51 on the line shaft 32.

It will thus be seen that my invention provides a separating apparatus whereby separation may be effected by gravity or amalgamation, and wherein provision is made for final amalgamation of the finer contents of the bearing material. Also that owing to themeans for producing a thorough agitation a maximum degree of separation and extraction of the gold will be effected, and that the efficiency of the apparatus is greatly increased by the use of the auto- -matic regulator valves controlling the discharge of the pulp. By the use of the water flush or air pressure pipes the material may be additionally agitated and the separators flushed out and cleansed whenever required, while by the described mode of delivering the pulp to the final separator simplicity, is insured, and greater efficiency obtained, since the feeding material is agitated under its feed motion and the mercury agitated thereby so as to thoroughly expose all particles of the pulp to the action of the mercury.

If desired, an automatic feeder of suitable construction may be employed for supplying the pulp to the hopper 17. As shown in the present instance a rotary type of feeder is disposed in'position above the hopper and comprises a casing 52 suitably fastened in place and provided with an inlet 53. Arranged within the casing below said inlet is a bladed or pocketed feed wheel 54 mounted upon a shaft 55 provided at one end with a pinion 56. On theshaft 55 are guard disks 57 which project into a groove formed by a guard flange 58 at the bottom of the inlet 52, whereby the pulp is guided between the blades or into the pockets of the wheel and prevented from getting between the wheel and the sides of the casing and causing binding or choking of the feed device. The pinion 56 m'esheswith agear 59 on a shaft 60 provided also with a beveled pinion 6'1 l-meshing with the adjacent :gear 30, by means of which the feeder will be driven automatically from the line shaft with the other working parts of the apparatus. In practice, the drive pulley 34: may be mounted either on the shaft 32 or on the shaft 60, as desired. 1

I claim:. a A; separating apparatus comprising a I separating chamber having :an outlet, a closed receptacle forming a suction box in communication with said outlet, a second separating chamberhaving an amalgamat- 7 suction and discharge portions, for sucking the material from said suction box and delivering the same to said nozzle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in'presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN A. MACDONALD. Witnesses: 'HOWARD W. MORGAN, CHARLES R. ARLEN.

, Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

, Washington, I), G. 

